updated 09:49 am EDT, Fri March 22, 2013

Google latest company linked to intelligent wrist-based devices

Google is exploring the possibility of building its own smartwatch, according to reports. The device is allegedly being created by the company's Android division, instead of the X Lab where Glass was created, and follows news of other companies creating their own smartwatch devices, such as Samsung and Apple.

The source for theFinancial Times claims that the new project will be separate from Samsung's efforts, though it is not clear when it would launch, if at all. The report also references a patent application from last year, where it would be used to display Glass-style information via a flip-up front bezel.

Though there is little in the way of details for the device, the claim that it is being built by the Android team suggests that Google believes it to be a more viable commercial product than Glass, but a rush by other manufacturers to market similar devices may leave Google out in the cold.

Images reported to be screenshots from the Samsung smartwatch surfaced a few days ago, and appeared to show a 500x500-resolution screen, and appeared to use the term Altius in its operating system name. An earlier report claims that Apple's own "iWatch," using a new type of curved glass, has 100 people working on the project, expanding on earlier rumors that Apple was working with Intel on such a device.